Hydraulic equalizer.



w. M. WHITE.

HYDRAULIC EQUALIZER. APPucmou man APR-1'9, 1915.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. M. WHl-TE. HYDRAULIC EQUAL[ ZER.

- APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. 19,15. Patented Feb. 13 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- water issuing from the device after passing flow therefrom in abruptly divert water flowing bend.

HYDRAULIC EQUALIZER Specification of Letters Patent.

WILLIAMM ITE, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

Application filed April 19, 1915. Serial No. 22,232.-

lates to a device-forming part otthe con-, dint. whereby the water flowing through the conduit may be turned at anangle thereto, and. more particularly vfrom the device in such a way that it will flow therefrom in straight. parallel stream lines of substantially equal velocity.

This device is primarily designed to conduit around a curve to cause it to flow in a direction at an angle to that previously taken and in such a way as to cause the around the curve to straight, parallel stream lines of substantially equal velocity. Thus it may be properly called an equalizer, or an equalizer It has been found that in the flow of water around an elbow of usual form or one of unvarying cross section that eddies and cross currents due to unequal pressures are pro.- duced in the elbow by the centrifugal force, exerted by the water. These eddies and ourrcuts start at the discharge endot-the supply pipe and extend down along it and are caused by the centrifugal force exerted by the water in going around the bend of the elbow. which force has a tendency to increase the velocity of the water against the outer side of the bend at or near the point of discharge and to decrease thevelocity of the water in the inner side. of. the elbow at the discharge. It is obvious that there will therefore be at the discharge a. stratum whose stream linesare flowing at unequal velocities and it is one-of the objects of this invention'to correct this condition of unequal velocity at the discharge end of the equalizer. I

A further object of this invention is to at a large angle there to. and when so turned will be delivered through a use this equalizer in combination with a flaring tube or pressure regainer and to connect said tube to the constricted outlet of the equalizer. lYhere so employed, permit the water to flow into the regainer 1n straight parallel stream lines of substantially equal velocity-and thus inereasethe 1 efiiciency of the regainer, over former constructions where, the regainer was connected to the usual .form of elbow, as in the usual form of elbow it has been pointed out that the water does not issue from its point of discharge in stream lines of equal velocity and consequently when this form is used with a regainer, the. unequal velocities of the streamdines flowing therethroughwill decreasethe etlicieucy .ol' the regainer.

A further object of the invention is to use the combined equalizer and regainer with the discharge pipe of a hydraulic mechanism. such as v a hydraulic motor or hydraulic pump. a

A further ob ect or" this nvent on is to employ this equa1izer in connection with hydraulic mechanisms in general wherever it is vnecessary to abruptly, change the flow'of water in a closed conduit and maintainstraight parallel stream lines of substantially equal velocity at the discharge therefrom, after changing the direction of flow.

The invention consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by. claims at the conclusion hereof.

The invention will stood by reference to the accompanying drawings. wherein Figure 1: shows a verti 'alsectional view otthe equalizer bend embodying the invention,

Fig. 1 is a transverse section of the combined equalizer bend and regainer, which may be termed the right angle regainer and which conforms in general to the description outlined above.

Fig. 2 is an end elevationof the device illustrated in Fig. 1,

. Fig. 3 shows the application of the right angle reg:

iner to the water wheel in a water power plant, Fig. 4 is a. section taken on thelinc 4-4 of Fi 3 v P 7 Fig.

\ li shows in section a form of a right angle regainerdra'ving us r-ease of velocity it w ill be more readily under- PatentedFen 13,1917.

in an expanded portion of the straight conduit before the elbowand an elbow with decreasing cross sectional area in the direction of flow, and

Fig. 6 shows a right angle regainer in section providing for decrease of velocity around the elbow and increasein velocity in end of said curved portion.

The flow of water around an elbow produces eddies and cross currents due to the varying pressures produced 1n the elbow by centrifugal force exerted by the water. The water is not as a rule delivered to the elbow at equal velocity throughout the cross section of the end of the supplying conduit. It is well known that water flowing through a cylindrical conduit has much higher velocity at the center than at the ed by the. water.

walls of the conduit, so that when the water from a cylindrical conduit is delivered to the elbow, that filament of stream line of the water at the center of the supplying pipe and which is directed to flow around the center of the elbow does not maintain its relative position with reference to the radius of the curvature of the center of the elbow, on account of the varying pressures produced by centrifugal force exert- The amount of the pressure due to centrifugal force is a function of the velocity of'the filament and the radius of curvature of the are on which the change of direction takes place. Let. us suppose a plane of measurable thickness, curved in shape and passing through the longitudinal center of the elbow. If now we consider a filament of water passing along the middle of said plane, and one passing in the same plane, but near the side wall of the elbow it will be seen that the difierence in pressure from the inner side to the outer side of that filament of water at the middle of the plane will be considerably greater than the difference in pressure between the inner surface and outer sur-' face of that filament of water next to the be forced toward or nearer to the center of curvature of the elbow.

This action is illustrative of filaments of water flowing at different velocities and the result isthat there is a constant tendency for the water flowing at high velocity to move toward the outer side of the elbow and that flowing at low velocity to be moved inwardly toward the inner side of the elbow, so that when the water passes from the discharge end of the elbow the lower side of the elbow at this point of discharge will be full of high velocity water and the upper side with lowfyelocity water. a

The equaliz r is designed to overcome the disturbance produced by the water in turning the elbow and consists of an elbow increasing in capacity from entrance 13 to its mid-section 1%,and decreasing in capacity from the mid-section to the discharge at 15. By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, 'it will be noted that the elbow flares from its entrance end to its midsection, and contracts from its mid-section to its outlet end. With this construction the water, in flowing from the conduit 11 connected thereto, passes down, and flowing throughthe gradually increasing section is slowed up and a part of its velocity is changed over into pressure. Resultantly, the centrifugal force exerted by the water will be diminished, due to the decrease in velocity and the increase in pressure in the water will have a tendency to balance the centrifugal force near the mid-section and particularly so at the mid-section. After the water passes the mid-section in flowing through the gradually decreasing section, the pressure is transformed into velocity and the action of the centrifugal force of the water having been counterbalanced,

lines of equal velocity at the discharge, the

difference in pressure at the enlarged portion of the elbow and the restricted portion should be equal to the centrifugal force, so that the'amount of increase and decrease of the portions of the elbow will vary inversely as the radius of curvature.

Having described the equalizer and its nature of operation, its'combination with a pressure regainer will now be considered.

In this connectionit has'been found that if an elbow of unvarying cross section is connected at its discharge with a conduit increasing in capacity with the object in view of reducing the velocity for the regain of pressure, the water flows down the s1de of theregainlng pipe adjacent to the outside radius ofthe elbow and water flows .bend.

at low velocity either backward or forward, depending upon conditions of sharpness of bend and velocity of the fluidaround the bend, in that side of the regaining pipe adjacent to the short radius of the elbow. The result is that any regainingaction in the ,flaring conduit is greatly diminished and same relation with greatest regain of pressure from velocity.

It is a well known fact that pressure may be regained from velocity of fluid in motion by causing the fluid to flow through a con duit of gradually increasing cross sectional area in the direction of flow provided that the angle of divergence of the walls of the conduit from the line of motion ot' the'fiuid is not too great and I have found by experiment that as a further condition for increased eiiiciency of the regainer that the water should be made to flow at substantially equal velocities throughout the stream as it enters the flaring conduit. Conse quently, when the equalizer is connected to the regainer as' described, I provide conditions for highest efficiency of the action o'f the regainer and at the same time turn the water through more or less of a curvature without affecting its velocity at the discharge to make theproper action of the re-- gainer possible. I

Referring more particularly to Fig. l, the high velocity water flows from the conduit 11 into the equalizer bend 12 at the point 13. The equalizer bend increases in capacity from entrance at 13 to its mid-section at 14, and decrease. n capacity from the midsection to the discharge at 15. A short section of straight conduit 16 may ormay not be used as occasion requires. A discharge conduit 17 of increasmg capacity in the direction of the flow has its entrance end connecting with and forming a continuation of the discharge end of the equalizer The radius of curvature of the equalizer bend is indicated at 18. High velocity Water enters the equalizer bend at 13 and in flowing along the equalizer bend of increasing capacity to 14 its velocity is decreased and on account thereof the varying pressures due to centrifugal force are-re duced in amount from what they would he were the elbow continued of uniform capacity throughout its length. The constriction at provides a means for causing the water to be discharged from the elbow as a jet with substantially equal velocities which expands into the discharge pipe 17, and consequently the water is in proper condition to be regained by the flaring conduit with good efficiency.

On reference to'l igs. and 4 the constructionof the regainer is shown in concrete, which is my preferred material for use in connection with 'ater wheels, although it can readily be constructed of other materials and it will be noted that the ent 'ance end 19 of the equalizer connects with the discharge from the runner 20. The equalizer is made of greater capacity at its mid-section 21 than at entrance 19 or at discharge :22. It will be noted that the capacity of the constricted portion of the equalizer at is substantially the same as the capacity of the equalizer at the point of connection to the-runner. The constriction at 22 may be greater or less than the capacitv of the equalizer atentrance, dependingnpon the change of velocity necessary to produce, by reason of the velocity heads of the wate at the large section and at the small section. a pressure in amount necessary to overcome the disturbing effects produced by centrifugal force in turning the i'atc' around the elbow. The discharge pipe 23 of increasing capacity in the direction of flow connects with and forms a continuation of the constricted. portion of the equalizer at 22. There is usually ample space for the installationof'long horizontal discharge pipes below thepowerhouse, so with the right angle regain'er we are enabled to provide forgreat regain of pressure from velocity to the ultimate higher efliciency of the water power plant with a minimum of excavation required underneath the water wheel, and it will be seen from Fig. 4 the width of a single 'regainer measured longitudinally within the power house is small, so that the length of the power house may be decreased as a greater number of units will occupy less space.

Another form of the combined equalizer and regainer is shown in Fig. 5, and it will be noted that the equalizer is formed of a short section of tube of increasing capacity 27 next to an elbow of decreasing capacity 28, forming a. constrictioii 29. which forms theentrance to a regainer or discharge pipe of expanding capacity 80. The difference of capacity of the elbow 28 at entrance and discharge is such as to cause such velocities of the water that the dii'lerence between the velocity heads of these two velocities \\'Ill.

be substantially equal to or greater than the centrifugal force produced by the water in turning the elbow. 1

In Fig. 6. it will be noted that the equalizer consists of an elbow 31 of increasing ca paeityin the direction of flow connected with a straight section of conduit decreasing in capacity in the direction of flow, forming a constricted portion 33 where the equalizer connects with the regaining conduit 34. The constriction of the conduit at 33 is such as to provide capacity for only water at high velocity and thus nullify the disturbing effects of the cross currents and the eddies produced in the water by centrifugal force at the point of curvature. It is not essential to have the regaining conduit connected directly to the constricted portion of the elbow but there may be a. short section of uniform capacity conduit connecting the two.

In the equalizer it is not essentlal that the change in direction be 90 degrees. The principal point is the enlargement coupled with the constriction of the conduit at or near the end of. the equalizer for the purpose of overcoming the effects of centrifugal force and to form the water into such shape as will cause parallel stream lines to issue from the end of the equalizer. By the use of such a regainer discharging into a flaring conduit, 1 am enabled to regain pressure from velocity in a very simple and etficient manner.

That form of the combined equalizer and regainer shown in Fig. 1 would be highly efficient and economical with water wheels constructed with horizontal shafts. In such designs it'is usually necessary to prolong the shaft and extend it through the discharge elbow to a bearing located at a distance from the water wheel runner. To restrict the length of the shaft, it has been found advisable to change the direction of the water flowing from the water wheel and turn it through as short a radius or curvature as possible.

This short radius of curvature, in a bend of unvarying cross section, results in great centrifugal force and the losses consequent thereupon. By increasing the capacity of the bend for the first portion of it, I decrease the velocity and thereby reduce the disturbing efl'ects produced by centrifugal force and by constricting the bendfrom mid-section to the end I deliver the water in the draft tube in stream flow lines of substantially equal velocities throughout the .cross section of the conduit at the discharge from the equalizer bend and thus provide for regaining pressure from velocity with good eflect in the flaring draft tube connected with ,the equalizer bend.

That form of the equalizer described under-Fig. 5 would be suitable for single runner vertical water wheels where the distance from the runner to the surface of the tail water is considerable.

That form of the equalizer illustrated in Fig. 6 would be useful and economical in similar types of water wheels where the distance from. the runner of the water Wheel to the level of the tail Water is relatively small.

The equalizer bend in its preferred form may be used as a substitute for the elbows usually employed .in connection with centrifugal pumps for directing the water from the suction pipe at substantially equal velocities into the eye of the impeller of the pump.

The equalizer bend and regainer may be equal velocity or at least by the constriction producing a solid jet which may be regained with better effect in a conduit of increasing capacity in the direction of flow connecting with the equalizer than would be regained in suchconduit were the constriction not used.

The invention thus exemplifies first an equalizer bend formed so as to cause a body of water passing therethrough to issue therefrom in parallel stream lines of substantially equal velocity and second, the combination of this equalizer bend with a flaring be used with my invention for the accom- 3.3

plishment of the results claimed. One type of water wheel in the meaning of the specifica'tion and claims is illustrated in the drawings.

I claim} y 1. An eqiia'lizer bend for closed conduits having a constricted outlet, and an enlarged intermediate interior portion, constructed to overcome the centrifugal action of the water 111 flowing around the bend and cause it to issue from the constricted outlet in substantially parallel stream lines of substantially equal velocity.

2. An equalizer bend for closed conduits, gradually increasing in capacity from the tub'e so as to obtain the greatest efliciency entrance to an intermediate enlargement and gradually decreasing in capacity from the said enlargement toward the outlet,,with a constriction-at the outlet so that a body of Water flowing around the bend will issue from the constricted outlet in substantially parallel stream lines of substantially equal velocity.

3. Anequalizer bend for-closed conduits comprising a portion of gradually increasing capacity from entrance to mid-section, and a portion of gradual-1y decreasing eapacit y from mid-section to its outlet, so that a'body of water flowing around the bend will issue from the constricted outlet in substantially parallel stream lines of substantially equal velocitly.

l. An equalizer bend for closed conduits comprising a section gradually increasing in capacity and a section gradually decreasing in capacity, said last named section forming a constriction at the discharge end of the bend, so that a body of ater flowing around the bend will issue from the constricted outlet in substantially parallel stream lines of substantially equal velocity. I

5. The combination with a flaring tube, of an equalizer bend having an enlarged intel-mediate interiorportion and a restricted of an equalizer bend,

outlet communicating with the small end of i said flaring tube, so that the water flowing around the bend will'ente'r the'flaring tube in substantially parallel stream lines of substantially equal velocity.

6. The combination with a flaring tube, gradually increasing in canacit from the entrance to an intermedia enlargement and gradually decreasing in capacity from said enlargement toward theoutlet with a constriction at the outlet of the bend communicating with said tube, so that water flowing around the bend will issue therefrom and flow into the flaring tube in substantially parallel stream;

lines of substantially equal velocity.

7. The combination with a flaring tube,

of an equalizer bend comprising a portion oi gradually increasing capacity vfrom entrance tomid-sectlonand a portion of gradually decreasing capacity from mid-section to its outlet communicating with said tube,

so that a body of water flowing around the into the bend will issue therefrom and flow flaring tube in substantially parallel stream lines of substantially equal velocity.

SI'lhe coml)inationwith a flaring tube, oi?

an equalizer bend comprising a section gradnally increasing in capacity and a section "end oi. the bend so il ecre:'1si "ng, in capacity, said last nani'ed'section communicating with said .tube and lorminga constriction at the discharge i that the water flowing around the bend will' enter the flaring tube r in stream lines of substantially equal ve-,

locity,

lines of substantially equal velocity.

connected to its small end, of anequalizer bend having an enlarged intermediate interior portion and a restricted outlet communicating with the tube of uniform diameter, so that water flowing around the bend and through the uniform section will enterthe flaring tube in substantially parallel stream lines of substantially equal velocity.

10, The combination, with a. Water Wheel and a flaring tube, of an equalizer bend gradually increasing in capacity to an intermediate enlargement from entrance from the Water wheel and gradually decreasing in capacity from said enlargement toward the outlet with a constriction at the outlet of the bend communicating with said tube.

11. The combination, with a water wheel and a flaring-tube, of an equalizer bend comprising a portionof gradually increasing capacity from entrance from the water wheel to mid-section and a portion of gradually decreasing capacity from mid-section toits outlet ammmnicating with said tube.

12. The combination, with a water wheel and a flaring tube, of an equalizer bend com prising a. portion of gradually increasing capacity from entrance to mid-section communicating with the wheel and a portion of gradually decreasing capacity from mid- "section communicating with said tube to its outlet, so that a body of Water passing from a the wheel and flowing around the bend will flow into the flaring 10o substantially form diameter connected to the small endlesof said flaring tube, of an equalizer bend interposed between and communicating with said wheel and uniform tube, having an enlarged intermediate interior portion and a restricted outlet communicating with the no tube of uniform diameter, so that water passing from the wheel and flowing around the bend and through the uniform section will enter the flaring tube in parallel stream 14. In a rcgainer for water power plants, the combination with the water wheel of a conduit leading therefrom and having a bend therein, said comluitbeing constricted at points at each end of said bend, said bend, being of varying crossscctional area at differeut points in its length, substantially as described. v

15. In a regainer for water power plants, the combination of a water wheel having a discharge passage; therefrom, said passage providing for a change in direction of flow oi the water, and means in said passage at the bend therein for reducing the velocity of the water and equalizing the velocities of stream flow at the discharge of the bend,-

substantially as described.

16. In a water power plant, the combination of a water wheel, and a discharge passage therebeneath, said passage having an angular bend therein. and means including restricted portions at both ends of the bend for causing substantially equal velocities of flow at the end of the bend. and means for regaining pressure from velocity in the water so discharged from the bend, substantially as described.

17.-ln combination with a water wheel, a discharge conduit therefrom of curved form, an enlargement in said conduit at point of curvature, and a constriction in said conduit at or near thediseharge end of the curved portion of said curved eonduit, whereby the water after having been turned around the curve will assume substantially parallel flow lilies of substantially equal velocity, a discharge pipe connected and communicating with the restricted portion of said curved conduit, said discharge pipe comprising a regaining section increasing in capacity in the direction. of flow, so

that the velo cit\ head of the water flowing through the entrance to said regaining section of the conduit Will be eliiclently transformed into pressure head, substantially as described.

18. in combination with a vertical shaft single runner water wheel, of a discharge conduit from said water wheel. 'a bend in said conduit. an enlargement of the conduit within said bend, a constriction in the conduit at the discharge end of said bend, for the purpose and substantially as described.

19. In combination with a water wheel, a curved discharge conduit therefrom. said curved conduit increasing in capacity in the direction of flow and then decreasing in capacity .in the direction of flow and forming a constriction at its discharge end of less capacity than the largest capacity with n the curved portion, substantially as described.

20. In combination with a water wheel, a discharge conduit ncreasing in capacity in the direction of flow. the axis of said conduit being substantially in line with the axis of the water wheel, an elbow of decreasing capacity in the direction of the flow connecting with said discharge passage, a regaining pipe of increasing capacity in the direction of the How and eon nected andcommunicating with the constricted portion of the elbow, whereby the water flowing from the water wheel may be caused to flow through said regaining pipe with substantially equal velocity at entrance to said regaining pipe. substantially as described.

21. In ombination with a water wheel, a curved conduit o'l graduallv iner p'acity to an intermediate enlargement and rapidly decreasing capacity from said enlargement in the direction of flow, whereby the velocity of the water may be decreased around the'bend and the eddies and cross currents caused by centrifugal force may be reduced to a minimum and the water be made to issue from the discharge end of the conduit in stream lines of substantially equal velocity.

22. A regainer comprising; an elbow having a flared outlet extension, said elbow being of increasingcapacity in the direction of flow followed by decreasing capacity to the flared extension, the increase and decrease in capacity of the elbow being such that the amount of change of pressure from the enlarged portion to the constricted portion is at least equal to the difference in pressure between the opposite sides of the elbow at its greatest cross-section measured alon the radius line of the elbow.

An equalizer bend for closed conduits, which bend flares inwardly from its oppo site ends to an intermediate portion ofmaximum cross-sectional area.

2 An equalizer bend for closed conduits, which bend flares inwardly from opposite ends to a mid-section of maximum area.

25. An equalizer for'closcd conduits comprising a onduit member including a bend, said conduit member flaring inwardly from opposite ends to an intermediate portion of maximum cross-sectional area.

26. An equalizer for closed conduits comprising a conduit section, including a bend, said conduit section flaring inwardly from opposite ends to a mid-section of maximum area.

27. The combination of a regainer, and an equalizer conduit section including a bend, said conduit section flaring inwardly from opposite ends to an intermediate portion of maximum cross-section, the discharge end of the equalizer communicating with the inlet end of the regainer.

28. The combination of'a regainer, and an equalizer conduit section including a bend, said conduit section flaring inwardly from opposite ends to a mid-section of maximum area, the discharge end of the equalizer commqnicating with the inlet of the regaincr. I

29. The combination of a regainer and auequalizer bend. said bend flaring inwardly from opposite ends to an intermediate portion of maximum area, the outlet of the bend communicating with the inlet of the regainer.

. 30. The combination ,of a regainer and an equalizer bend. said bend flaring inwardly from opposite ends to a mid-section of maximum area, the outlet end of the bend communicating with the inlet of the regainer.

31. The combination with a water ,wheel of; the equalizer communicating with said I and a flaring passage, of an equalizer con; flaring passage. 10 duit Section including a bend, said equaL Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 14th izer graduallv incr asing in capacity to an day of A ril, 1915. intermediate enlargement from entrance WILLIAM M. WHITE.

from water wheel and gradually decreasing Witnesses: a in capacity from said enlargement toward T. D. BUTLER, the outlet with a constriction 'atthe outlet H. C. JAcoBs. 

